Block Letters

In this lesson we are going to learn the Appearance of Block Letters. We will learn the letter's name and any special qualities a letter has, such as double sound for example. 

We will also learn the letter's quick sound. The letter's quick sound is typically the sound of the first letter of the letter's name. 

A letter makes a quick sound when it appears with no vowels (The vowels are lines or dots appearing under, on top or in the letters). Also when there are two vertical dots underneath the letter the letter will make a quick sound.

Lets move to the right hand side of the page because Hebrew is written from right to left.

Alef אָלֶף

Alef doesn't have a quick sound. א אְ is silent

Bet בֵּית

  Bet has 2 quick sounds; B (Strong) and V (Weak)

If a there is dot in the Bet it sounds like B  בּ בְּ

If there is no dot in the Bet it sound like V  ב בְ

Hint to remember this: If letter has a  Belly Button its sounds is B

 Gimel גִימֶל

Gimel quick sound ג גְ is G

When Gimel has apostrophe 'ג it will make Ge / J sound

Dalet דָלֶת

Dalet quick sound ד דְ is  D

Hey הֵי

Hey doesn't have a quick sound ה הְ is silent 

  

Vav וָו

Vav quick sound ו וְ is V

 NOTE: Letter can also be used as a vowel, with dot in the middle, sound oo וּ

 NOTE: Letter can also be used as a vowel, with dot on top,  sound o וֹ

Hey זָיִן

Zayin quick sound ז זְ is Z

When Zayin has apostrophe 'ז it will make Ja (French pronunciation) sound

H'et חֶט

H'et quick sound ח חְ is H'

NOTE: This sound is not like the the letter Hey above. It comes more from the back of the throat. See my video to hear the sound, link at the end of the lesson

Tet טֶט

Tet quick sound ט טְ is T

Yud יוּד

Yud quick sound י יְ is Y

 NOTE: Letter can also be used as a vowel, and sound ee / i י

Kaf כַּף

Kaf has 2 quick sounds; K (Strong) and H' (Weak like H'et)

If a dot appear in the Kaf it sounds like K  כּ

If there is no dot in the Kaf it sound like H'  כ
When Kaf appears at the end of a word it looks different and is called called Final kaf

Final Kaf כַּף סוֹפִית

Final Kaf has 1 quick sound  ך ךְ H'

Lamed לָמֶד

Lamed quick sound ל לְ is L

Mem מֵם

Mem quick sound מ מְ is M

When Mem appears at the end of a word (Like in the Letter's name Mem) it looks  different and is called called Final Mem

Final Mem מֵם סוֹפִית

 Final Mem quick sound ם m

Noon נוּן

Noon quick sound נ נְ is  N

 When Noon appears at the end of a word (Like in the Letter's name Noon) it looks  different and is called called Final Noon

Final Mem נוּן סוֹפִית

Final Noon quick sound ן n

Sameh' ְסַמֶך

Sameh' quick sound ס סְ is S 

Ayin עָיִן

Ayin quick sound ע עְ is A

Peh פֶּה

Peh has 2 sounds; P (Strong) and F (Weak)

If a dot appear in the Peh it sounds like P  פּ פְּ

If there is no dot in the Peh it sound like f  פ פְ

When Peh appears at the end of a word it looks  different and is called called Final Peh

Final Mem פֶּה סוֹפִית

Final Peh quick sound ף f

Tsadi צָדִי

Tsadi quick sound צ צְ is TS

When Tsadi appears at the end of a word it looks  different and is called called Final Tsadi

When Tsadi has apostrophe 'צ it will make Ch sound

vFinal Tsadi צָדִי סוֹפִית

Final Tsadi quick sound ץ ts

Kuf קוּף

Kuf quick sound ק קְ is K

Resh רֶשׁ

Resh quick sound ר רְ is R

Shin שִׁין

Shin has 2 quick sounds; SH (Strong) and S (Weak)

A dot on the right hand corner of the letter make it sound like SH  שׁ שְׁ

A dot on the left hand corner of the letter make it sounds like S שׂ שְׂ

Tav תַו

Tav quick sound ת תְ is T